Catching a trademark name, bad idea?

[ian]

Spotted a few domains due to drop that are very clearly trademark names of successful companies that operate under their .com domain. What is the general opinion of you guys:

1. Stay well away, avoid at all costs
2. Catch but don't use the site at all and offer it to the company
3. Catch and use but avoid it looking like a representation of the company

 

[SkinnerSkinner is verified member.]

Catch it, get bent over, make monthly payments in damages for years.

or

Find alternatives, make money and don't require a rubber ring to sit down for long periods.

 

[Brassneck]

Spotted a few domains due to drop that are very clearly trademark names of successful companies that operate under their .com domain. What is the general opinion of you guys:

1. Stay well away, avoid at all costs
2. Catch but don't use the site at all and offer it to the company
3. Catch and use but avoid it looking like a representation of the company

Surprised you need to ask this.

 

[Nova]

What happens if you buy a name now that isn't trademarked and then a company later trademarks it? Where do you stand in that case?

 

[acceleratoraccelerator is verified member.]

My own approach is not to register or obtain a "brandable" domain that solely has value because of someone else's intellectual property. If it's a "generic" domain, then that's different. If the sole reason a domain has value is because of the prior efforts of someone else, then really it's exploitative, and that's not for me. Plus it can lead to legal bills.

Rgds

 

[ian]

I expected this might be the case, just wasn't sure what they could actually do about it if you catch a domain but don't do anything with it...having said that, you'd probably not be able to sell and profit from it either!